2.4.0.6 Html 309 324 1 false 85 0 false 7 false false R1.htm 010010 - Document - Document and Entity Information Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation Document and Entity Information false false R2.htm 010020 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfIncome Consolidated Statements of Income false false R3.htm 010030 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeParenthetical Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) false false R4.htm 010035 - Statement - Statement of Other Comprehensive Income Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementStatementOfOtherComprehensiveIncome Statement of Other Comprehensive Income false false R5.htm 010037 - Statement - Statement of Other Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementStatementOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeParenthetical Statement of Other Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) true false R6.htm 010040 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheets Consolidated Balance Sheets false false R7.htm 010050 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) false false R8.htm 010060 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows false false R9.htm 010070 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlowsParenthetical Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) false false R10.htm 011010 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureBasisOfPresentation Basis of Presentation false false R11.htm 011030 - Disclosure - Fair Values Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureFairValues Fair Values false false R12.htm 011040 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoans Accounts Receivable and Loans false false R13.htm 011050 - Disclosure - Reserves for Losses Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReservesForLosses Reserves for Losses false false R14.htm 011060 - Disclosure - Investment Securities Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecurities Investment Securities false false R15.htm 011070 - Disclosure - Asset Securitizations Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAssetSecuritizations Asset Securitizations false false R16.htm 011090 - Disclosure - Customer Deposits Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCustomerDeposits Customer Deposits false false R17.htm 011120 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivities Derivatives and Hedging Activities false false R18.htm 011130 - Disclosure - Guarantees Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureGuarantees Guarantees false false R19.htm 011170 - Disclosure - Income Taxes Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxes Income Taxes false false R20.htm 011180 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerCommonShareEPS Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) false false R21.htm 011190 - Disclosure - Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDetailsOfCertainConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLines Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines false false R22.htm 011240 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies Commitments and Contingencies false false R23.htm 011250 - Disclosure - Reportable Operating Segment Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReportableOperatingSegment Reportable Operating Segment false false R24.htm 020000 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) false false R25.htm 030030 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesTables Fair Values (Tables) false false R26.htm 030040 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansTables Accounts Receivable and Loans (Tables) false false R27.htm 030050 - Disclosure - Reserves For Losses (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReservesForLossesTables Reserves For Losses (Tables) false false R28.htm 030060 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesTables Investment Securities (Tables) false false R29.htm 030090 - Disclosure - Customer Deposits (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCustomerDepositsTables Customer Deposits (Tables) false false R30.htm 030120 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesTables Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Tables) false false R31.htm 030130 - Disclosure - Guarantees (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureGuaranteesTables Guarantees (Tables) false false R32.htm 030180 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerCommonShareEPSTables Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) (Tables) false false R33.htm 030190 - Disclosure - Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDetailsOfCertainConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLinesTables Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Tables) false false R34.htm 030260 - Disclosure - Reportable Operating Segment (Tables) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReportableOperatingSegmentTables Reportable Operating Segment (Tables) false false R35.htm 040300 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesDetails Fair Values (Details) false false R36.htm 040310 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesDetails1 Fair Values (Details 1) false false R37.htm 040320 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesDetails2 Fair Values (Details 2) false false R38.htm 040330 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureFairValuesDetailsTextuals Fair Values (Details Textuals) false false R39.htm 040400 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details) false false R40.htm 040410 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails1 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1) false false R41.htm 040420 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails2 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 2) false false R42.htm 040430 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails3 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3) false false R43.htm 040440 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 4) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails4 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 4) false false R44.htm 040450 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 5) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails5 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 5) false false R45.htm 040460 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails6 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) false false R46.htm 040470 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 7) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetails7 Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 7) false false R47.htm 040480 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableAndLoansDetailsTextuals Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details Textuals) false false R48.htm 040500 - Disclosure - Reserves for Losses (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReservesForLossesDetails Reserves for Losses (Details) false false R49.htm 040510 - Disclosure - Reserves for Losses (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReservesForLossesDetails1 Reserves for Losses (Details 1) false false R50.htm 040520 - Disclosure - Reserves for Losses (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/ReservesForLossesDetails2 Reserves for Losses (Details 2) false false R51.htm 040530 - Disclosure - Reserves For Losses (Details 3) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReservesForLossesDetails3 Reserves For Losses (Details 3) false false R52.htm 040540 - Disclosure - Reserves For Losses (Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReservesForLossesTextuals Reserves For Losses (Textuals) false false R53.htm 040600 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesDetails Investment Securities (Details) false false R54.htm 040610 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesDetails1 Investment Securities (Details 1) false false R55.htm 040620 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesDetails2 Investment Securities (Details 2) false false R56.htm 040630 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details 3) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesDetails3 Investment Securities (Details 3) false false R57.htm 040640 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details 4) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesDetails4 Investment Securities (Details 4) false false R58.htm 040650 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureInvestmentSecuritiesDetailsTextuals Investment Securities (Details Textuals) false false R59.htm 040700 - Disclosure - Asset Securitizations (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureAssetSecuritizationsDetailsTextuals Asset Securitizations (Details Textuals) false false R60.htm 040900 - Disclosure - Customer Deposits (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCustomerDepositsDetails Customer Deposits (Details) false false R61.htm 040910 - Disclosure - Customer Deposits (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCustomerDepositsDetails1 Customer Deposits (Details 1) false false R62.htm 040920 - Disclosure - Customer Deposits (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCustomerDepositsDetails2 Customer Deposits (Details 2) false false R63.htm 040930 - Disclosure - Customer Deposits (Details 3) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCustomerDepositsDetails3 Customer Deposits (Details 3) false false R64.htm 041200 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesDetails Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) false false R65.htm 041210 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesDetails1 Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 1) false false R66.htm 041220 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesDetails2 Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 2) false false R67.htm 041230 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesDetails3 Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) false false R68.htm 041240 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesDetailsTextuals Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals) false false R69.htm 041300 - Disclosure - Guarantees (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureGuaranteesDetails Guarantees (Details) false false R70.htm 041730 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDetailsTextuals Income Taxes (Details Textuals) false false R71.htm 041800 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerCommonShareEPSDetails Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) (Details) false false R72.htm 041900 - Disclosure - Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDetailsOfCertainConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLinesDetails Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details) false false R73.htm 041910 - Disclosure - Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 1) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDetailsOfCertainConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLinesDetails1 Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 1) false false R74.htm 041920 - Disclosure - Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 2) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDetailsOfCertainConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLinesDetails2 Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 2) false false R75.htm 041930 - Disclosure - Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 3) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureDetailsOfCertainConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeLinesDetails3 Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 3) false false R76.htm 042410 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesDetailsTextuals Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) false false R77.htm 042500 - Disclosure - Reportable Operating Segments and Geographic Operations (Details) Sheet http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureReportableOperatingSegmentsAndGeographicOperationsDetails Reportable Operating Segments and Geographic Operations (Details) false false All Reports Book All Reports Element axp_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasis had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 0. Element us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet had a mix of decimals attribute values: -8 -6. Element us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 0. Element us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 0. Element us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGain had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 0. Element us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1 had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 0. Element us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold had a mix of decimals attribute values: -9 -6. Element us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount had a mix of decimals attribute values: -8 -6. 'Monetary' elements on report '010040 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Shares' elements on report '010050 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040300 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040310 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details 1)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040320 - Disclosure - Fair Values (Details 2)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040400 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040410 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040600 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '040700 - Disclosure - Asset Securitizations (Details Textuals)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. 'Monetary' elements on report '041300 - Disclosure - Guarantees (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values. Process Flow-Through: 010020 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income Process Flow-Through: 010030 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) Process Flow-Through: 010035 - Statement - Statement of Other Comprehensive Income Process Flow-Through: 010037 - Statement - Statement of Other Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) Process Flow-Through: 010040 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2010' Process Flow-Through: 010050 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2011' Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2010' Process Flow-Through: 010060 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Process Flow-Through: 010070 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) axp-20120930.xml axp-20120930.xsd axp-20120930_cal.xml axp-20120930_def.xml axp-20120930_lab.xml axp-20120930_pre.xml true true